Local links to Azaria Chamberlain case

By Jeannette McMahon (online producer )

A Northern Territory coroner's finding that a dingo killed baby Azaria Chamberlain at a campground at Uluru in 1980 has brought to an end one of the nation's longest-running legal sagas, one with links to the Newcastle area.

During many of those years of legal struggles the Chamberlain family has had strong links to the Lake Macquarie town of Cooranbong.

Michael and Lindy were well-known members of the Seventh Day Adventist community there, and Michael still lives in the area with his second wife, Ingrid.

He also studied at the University of Newcastle and taught at Gosford High until he retired in 2008.

The university's Professor Barry Boettcher was also heavily involved in the case, giving evidence that discredited initial forensic findings implicating the Chamberlains.

Outside the Darwin courtroom this morning, after Coroner Elizabeth Morris said all of the evidence indicates a dingo was responsible for Azaria's death, both Michael and Lindy Chamberlain addressed the media.

"The truth is out," Michael said.

"And I want to take the opportunity here to thank a courageous and independent coroner for her findings.

"I thank all of you who have believed in us, who have backed us and worked for us to see justice done today."

Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, who attended court with her second husband, Rick, was emotional as she faced the media.

"Obviously we're relieved and delighted to come to the end of this saga," she said.

ABC reporter Phoebe Stewart was in the courtroom when the coroner delivered her findings.

She told 1233 ABC Newcastle's Carol Duncan the tension in the room was "palpable".

"There was an intense feeling inside the court as the findings were being handed down," she says.

"There was an impromptu clap from everyone in the court when the official finding was handed down that a dingo was responsible for the death.

"You could see that Lindy and Michael were both emotional and they were flanked by their children and their friends, and everyone was really hanging on every word the coroner had to say.

"When she delivered those findings that she was totally convinced that a dingo was responsible, all eyes were on Lindy and she was looking at her husband with tears in her eyes."

The Chamberlains hugged after the findings were delivered, and later displayed Azaria's new death certificate to the cameras.

It was 32 years ago yesterday that two-month-old Azaria disappeared from a tent, with her parents maintaining she'd been taken by a dingo.

There have been four coronial inquiries, a murder trial and a Royal Commission into the baby's disappearance.

Lindy was jailed for murder but the conviction was overturned in 1988 after Azaria's jacket was found near a dingo lair.

"Please accept my sincere sympathy on the death of your special and loved daughter and sister Azaria," the coroner told the Chamberlain family after delivering her finding.